Sad, but true. I'm particularly wary of trying to construct an argument that the filibuster is unconstitutional using the same kind of logic that's used to argue that health care reform is unconstitutional. I'm also puzzled by the attempt -- which will be familiar to...
filibuster
At one of my wonkier venues, I have some thoughts about the issues that Matt and Ezra have also discussed recently. There's no question that the combination of increased partisanship.
They understood that the best way to protect minority rights via legislation was to employ a three-step process.Step One: Create a system of legislative rules so inherently dysfunctional that nothing.
Ezra is, of course, completely right about the filibuster. While there may be individual exceptions in the long sweep of history, legislative gridlock is far more beneficial to reactionary than to progressive interests. It's not even a close question.I'd only add that Winship's invocation of...
To make some comments on the conversation between Drum and Yglesias (and Hertzberg):The case for the constitutionality of the filibuster starts from a compelling basis: Article I specifies that "Each.
Not being on the top-secret list I can't say whether someone actually did come up with one. But I'm amused that the small and odd band of progressives attempting to.
While as most if you know I certainly agree with David RePass's general hostility to the filibuster, some of his specific arguments here are problematic. His conclusion -- that the solution to the problem of adding yet another onerous supermajority requirement to a constitutional order...
With the discussion here and elsewhere in the blogosphere about the filibuster, I thought it was worth trying to get to the core of the issues. It is true, as.
John Judis brings the appropriate level of outrage to the failure of the auto bailout. And I actually think Kevin Drum is being too charitable when he attributes Republican opposition.
Via LP, Josh Marshall's argument on why Senate Dems need to protect the filibuster is just a touch underspecified:It is just bad practice -- especially in the face of the last eight years -- for numerical majorities not only to use the power of their...